Diplomacy allows Mugabe to escape censure at summit

African leaders yesterday avoided a confrontation with President Robert Mugabe and appointed Thabo Mbeki, South Africa's president, to mediate in the growing political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe. The meeting of regional leaders also urged Britain to honour its commitment to fund land redistribution in Zimbabwe.

Opposition leaders in Zimbabwe denounced the outcome of the meeting as "stupid".

Mr Mugabe tried to persuade his neighbours that rising political violence, which prompted the extraordinary summit of southern African leaders, is the fault of terrorist tactics by the opposition backed by whites nostalgic for the old Rhodesia.

The US, Britain and the EU called on African leaders to pressure Mr Mugabe to end political repression. But the region's leaders backed Mr Mbeki's "quiet diplomacy". The chairman of the meeting, Tanzania's president, Jakaya Kikwete, said they decided "to promote dialogue of the parties in Zimbabwe". They also called for an end to sanctions that Mr Mugabe has blamed for the collapse of the economy but which western governments say are targeted against Zanu-PF leaders.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said the Zimbabwean leader had duped his fellow presidents into believing the issue was western policies.

"Once again they have been outfoxed by Rob Mugabe," said the MDC's secretary general, Tendai Biti. "Once you mention Britain and land and sanctions you are playing into Robert Mugabe's hands that the problems are about imperial history and the economic crisis is about sanctions. The issue is human rights, legitimacy and democracy. The political oppression that is going on is nothing to do with land. If that is what Thabo Mbeki is going to negotiate about then it's a very stupid decision."